Paul Skenes Fantasy Stats

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes bounced back from his rough outing on Opening Day in his second start of the season on Wednesday. The 23-year-old threw five innings on one-run ball to log his first win in his team's 8-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, recording five strikeouts while allowing three hits and two walks. While Skenes wasn't quite his usual dominant self, his relative return to form was still a welcome sight for fantasy managers after Skenes failed to get out of the first inning in his first outing of the year against the New York Mets. Skenes' command has been a little bit off to start the year, as he's allowed four walks in 5 2/3 innings. However, the hard-throwing right-hander owns a K-BB% of 24.8% and a WHIP of 0.96 across 321 1/3 career MLB innings. As long as he's healthy, Skenes profiles as an elite starting pitcher option for fantasy managers.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in baseball and has been a hot topic in trade rumors. The New York Yankees reportedly offered four prospects for Skenes during the offseason. It wasn't enough as the Pirates didn't even listen to the offer, according to Jon Heyman. The 23-year-old star pitcher isn't a free agent until 2030, so there's no urgency for the Pirates to move the right-hander. The organization made multiple moves this offseason to add offense in an attempt to build a better team around Skenes. It's not shocking that they weren't willing to trade him with the organization actively trying to be competitive right now. The Pirates didn't even entertain an offer of four prospects, so it's unclear what they'd even consider for Skenes.

It was not the Opening Day that Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was expecting on Thursday on the road against the New York Mets. Skenes took the loss and didn't make it out of the first inning, allowing five earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. He was pulled after just 37 pitches in an eventual 11-7 loss. Most of the damage against Skenes came on a bases-loaded triple. It was just one of those days, and not even Skenes is immune to them. The reigning National League Cy Young winner and former Rookie of the Year will be well-rested for his second start of 2026, which will come next Wednesday, April 1, against the Cincinnati Reds. We think Skenes will bounce back just fine. He is already one of the most dominant starting pitchers in the league in just his third major-league campaign.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Thursday that right-hander Paul Skenes will start on Opening Day on Thursday, March 26, on the road at Citi Field against the New York Mets. It's not the easiest of opening matchups, but fantasy managers should never be benching the mighty Skenes. The 23-year-old former first overall pick out of LSU in 2023 made a quick rise to the big leagues and has quickly established himself as one of the most dominant arms in the game in just two MLB seasons. He's been an All-Star in both of his big-league campaigns, won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2024, and the first of likely many Cy Young awards in 2025. Skenes has gone 21-13 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 386:74 K:BB in 320 2/3 innings over his 55 starts for the Bucs. He looked great pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and will look to get his year started on the right foot in New York next week.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said he expects Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes' pitch limit to be around 75 to 80 pitches for the World Baseball Classic semifinals on Sunday against the Dominican Republic, according to Rowan Kavner of FOX Sports. It will be a high-intensity, difficult matchup for Skenes before the 2026 regular season even begins. The 23-year-old former first overall pick in 2023 out of LSU is already one of the top big-league pitchers as he heads into his third MLB campaign. Skenes was as advertised with a quick rise to the big leagues, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 and winning the NL Cy Young in his second season last year. He led the big leagues in ERA (1.97), FIP (2.36), WHIP (0.95), and home runs allowed per nine innings (0.5) while throwing 187 2/3 innings over 32 starts last year. Skenes has all the ingredients needed to finish as the overall SP1 in fantasy baseball when all is said and done in 2026.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes said he expects to make two starts for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, assuming they advance out of pool play, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The reigning National League Cy Young winner is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut in spring training on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, and he's also scheduled to pitch in one of Team USA's exhibition contests next week in Arizona. The 23-year-old will most likely take the ball on Opening Day on March 26 for the Pirates against the New York Mets on the road at Citi Field. The former first overall pick in 2023 out of LSU has lived up to the hype early in his MLB career and went 10-10 while leading the league in ERA (1.97), FIP (2.36), WHIP (0.95), and home runs allowed per nine innings (0.5) in 32 starts (187 2/3 innings) in his second year in the majors. Skenes is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game already and is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 3 starting pitcher in fantasy.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes established himself as one of MLB's premier hurlers in 2025, posting a 10-10 record with a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 216 strikeouts across 187 2/3 innings pitched. The 23-year-old was unanimously named the National League Cy Young Award winner in just his second big-league season. With a career K-BB rate of 25% across 320 2/3 MLB innings, Skenes' underlying numbers support his dominance. From a fantasy perspective, wins are the one category where Skenes provided middling production in 2025, particularly relative to other high-end starting pitching options. While the Pirates don't profile as a juggernaut in 2026, they have made some steps towards contention this offseason by adding veteran infielders Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn. With a better supporting cast around him, Skenes could reach yet another level in 2026.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes won the National League Cy Young award on Wednesday night, getting all 30 first-place votes one season after winning Rookie of the Year, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez finished second in the voting, with Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto coming in third. It's crazy how quickly Skenes has become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. In his first two years in the majors, Skenes' 1.96 career ERA is the lowest through 55 starts in any pitcher's career since 1920. The former first overall pick out of LSU only got 3.4 runs of support per game, the third-lowest of any qualified pitcher in 2025. His MLB-best 1.97 ERA was more than a half-run lower than his closest competition in the NL. Skenes is the first pitcher in MLB to have a sub-2.00 ERA with at least 185 innings since Jacob deGrom did it in 2018. He's going to be a mainstay as the top-rated fantasy starting pitcher for years to come.

USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates "won't even listen to trade proposals" for right-hander Paul Skenes. The 23-year-old pitching phenom is already one of the best pitchers in baseball, but the rebuilding Pirates won't consider trading away the former first overall pick and the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year. Skenes is already a two-time All-Star and followed up his special first year in the big leagues by going 10-10 with a league-best 1.97 ERA (2.36 FIP) and league-best 0.95 WHIP with a career-best 216 strikeouts and 42 walks in 187 2/3 innings over his 32 starts. Skenes headlines an intriguing young pitching staff for the Bucs that will remain the strength of their team heading into next season. In fantasy baseball, Skenes will be the most coveted No. 1 starter.

Pittsburgh Pirates ace right-hander Paul Skenes (10-9) stymied the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 5-3 victory on Thursday to pick up his 10th win of the season. Skenes held the Dodgers scoreless over six innings of two-hit ball and registered eight strikeouts against one walk on 94 pitches (65 strikes). It was the 19th quality start this year for Skenes, who has limited the opposition to one earned run or fewer an incredible 18 times in 29 tries. The NL Cy Young front-runner now boasts a 1.98 ERA with a .94 WHIP, 195 strikeouts, and 39 walks in 173 innings. Skenes is scheduled to make his next start against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 11.